Five Best with Vitamin C 2014

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Vitamin C serums have really come into their own. No longer an uneasy compromise between efficacy and irritation, you can now have it both ways. The best vitamin C serums use new formulas that are super effective, stable and gentle. For collagen building, hyperpigmentation and an antioxidant blast, my favorite C serums are among my product heroes (or perhaps that should be heroines). With so many good ones to choose from, it wasn’t easy to come up with the Five Best. Along with two old friends, I have three new ones. These are the Five Best serums with vitamin C for 2014.

Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics Vitamin C Active Moisture Serum

Yes, you want organic with no toxins, but you also want it to work. Elizabeth Dehn for One Love Organics Vitamin C Active Moisture Serum ($75 in the shop) delivers on all counts. There’s nothing fancy about the form of vitamin C, l-ascorbyl palmitate, but along with vitamins A and E, this serum fades dark spots, gives skin a radiant glow and is reasonably priced (a little goes a long way). There’s omega-rich sea buckthorn, but best of all is baobab (an African tree) that is a super source of vitamins C and A, and a potent antioxidant.

Medik8 CE-Thione Rechargeable Vitamin C Serum

Medik8 CE-Thione Rechargeable Vitamin C Serum ($150 in the shop) is the latest addition in the brand’s range of vitamin C serums. CE-Thione boasts being the first ever form of "rechargeable" vitamin C. Consisting of 15% L-ascorbic Acid, vitamin E, and L-glutathione, it apparently mimics the same process our own bodies use to keep vitamin C stable. According to Medik8, "the Vitamin C is 'recharged' by having two antioxidant 'allies' in solution with it: Vitamin E and L-Glutathione which then regenerate the Vitamin C molecule when it is used up, delivering an incredible potency." This is definitely not a natural formula, but it does work encouraging long term skin regeneration as well as some immediate gratification.

E’shee Serum Vitalizing C

A Five Best vitamin C pick for the fourth year running, E’shee Serum Vitalizing C ($119 in the shop) has 20% vitamin C that is supposed to remain active in the skin for up to 48 hours. Here, liposomes stabilize the vitamin C and ensure that it is delivered more efficiently into the cells. The key thing is that the slow release also makes it suitable for sensitive skin. So even if you thought vitamin C is usually too harsh, think again with E’shee. Along with liposome vitamin C, this serum gives us copper PCA (copper always gets my vote, as it is a collagen builder) as well as antioxidants mulberry and ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo biloba is an anti-inflammatory, too. It’s high-quality product that is deservedly a two-year winner in the Five Best vitamin C serum category.

Medik8 C-Tetra

Medik8 C-Tetra($70 in the shop) has one of the best forms of vitamin C, tetrahexydecyl ascorbate. An active lipid form of pro-vitamin C, studies have concluded it has "increased ability to penetrate" and convert to vitamin C within the dermis ... [and] superior stability to ascorbic acid." This increased ability to penetrate means that, unlike ascorbic acid, you don’t need a lot of it. Medik8 C-Tetra has tetrahexydecyl ascorbate at a 3% and that’s about it.

About Five Best

Truth In Aging's community tests, reviews and selects the most effective anti-aging beauty products, but the product choices can still be overwhelming. That's why we created our FIVE BEST categories, to give you the very best to choose from for your skin concerns.

More Five Best

This is Shahana from Bangladesh, a 37 year’s woman. My skin is oily. My face has wrinkle, age and pimple spot. I have very dark circle in my eye. So pls advise me, a face cream and eye cream with reasonable price for my age Spots, Dull Skin, Hyper pigmentation, Sagging Skin.

Shahana

September 15, 2014

by Lisa

I love vitamin C serum. It brightens my skin and fades age spots. But these are so pricey. I've tried a couple of the less expensive brands from Amazon including the OZ Naturals and Cosmetic Skin Solutions, I've used Paula's Choice and now DIY. I can't say I see much difference in any of them. Some of the additional ingredients in the formulas above are awesome and are included in other products I use (e.g. L-Glutathione, copper peptide). But, if you don't have a lot of money to invest at the moment you'll still get results from the less expensive versions. All I can say is TRY VITAMIN C SERUM - you will love the results.

May 14, 2014

by Marta

Hi Angela, as far as I can tell Revenir is using electrolyzed water. There are a lot of variations of so-called "functional water" and they are mostly dismissed as bogus. Lots of claims are made, but there is no independent scientific support. We researched these waters a few years ago and I have been unable to find anything written since that gives them credence: http://www.truthinaging.com/review/supercharged-waters-not-so-super

May 14, 2014

by Angela

Marta, Do you know about the Revenir skin care system?. It's a hand-held device that sprays an electrolyzed mist of a Vitamin C solution. The manufacturer claims that, because the molecular structure of the solution is broken down to 40 microns or less, it can penetrate the skin more deeply than any serum or cream. My esthetician swears by it and recommends it for home use, but it's a significant financial investment and I don't know if the claims are true or just marketing. I'd love to get your take on it.